Ranch is a cultural benefit for Temecula

There’s something about Old Town San Diego: The Whaley House, El Campo Santo Cemetery, La Casa de Estudillo not only bring us reminders of days gone by, but the shops, restaurants and historic displays inspire new stories, as we get a tangible experience of the history of the state, region and community. And for my children and I, our family history has been augmented by experiences there.

And soon, a similar experience will be available locally on the Vail Ranch. I got the news that the Louis Wolf Store was about completed, so I wanted to speak to Darell Farnbach about it. Darell and his wife, Rebecca, along with Dick and Betty Diamond and other Temecula residents, formed the Vail Ranch Restoration Association in the mid-90s for the preservation of the Vail Ranch headquarters, which was once the seat of financial power and influence in the Temecula Valley. In fact, it can be argued that the Wolf Store -- after the Apis adobe which no longer exists -- was the birthplace of Temecula, the real “Old Town.”

I couldn’t reach Darell, but on Sunday, I knew where he’d likely be. I went to the Little Temecula History Center and saw him scrubbing a piece of the recently demolished Main Street bridge. I told him I’d heard that the Wolf Store was about done. "Want to see it?” he asked. He sounded like a proud papa and, indeed, that’s a fair comparison. Darell joked that if anyone could claim to have put his heart and soul into the project, he could. A couple of years ago, he was planting two large pepper trees by himself and ended up with a heart attack for his effort.

The restoration is amazing, and one of the small rooms that served as a hotel room when the store served as a stage stop will be outfitted with period furniture, the rest will be incorporated into the building.

He explained that the plan is to emulate Old Town San Diego or Cannery Row in Monterey by having the restored buildings of the ranch, the Louis Wolf Store, the Bunkhouse, etc., house commercial enterprises. The Wolf Store would be an excellent site for a coffee house where there would be room for entertainment.

As I wrote in my column in 2001, this area has a soul to it. There’s a rich history to this place, and the Vail Ranch and Wolf Store are all part of that. Most of us are transplants to the area, and it’s good to learn about the past of our new home. And like Old Town San Diego, it’s good to see schoolchildren taking field trips to learn about the ranch.

We certainly owe the people from the Vail Ranch Restoration Association a debt of gratitude.